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The Ministry of Health, Environment & Sustainability (MHES) is proud to announce that its residential and public sector building energy efficiency programme has been named Best Energy Efficiency Project by the Caribbean Renewable Energy Forum (CREF) at its recent conference in Miami.

CREF is the Caribbean’s largest energy industry network, and its annual awards celebrate excellence in projects, programmes, and individuals advancing the region’s clean energy transition.  

The Cayman Island’s two-year energy efficiency programme, a National Energy Policy initiative funded by the European Union’s Resilience, Sustainable Energy and Marine Biodiversity Programme (RESEMBID), concluded in January 2025. The programme focused on reducing energy consumption and improving efficiency in both residential buildings – specifically those constructed by the National Housing Development Trust (NHDT) – and public sector infrastructure.  

Under the Residential Programme, 10 NHDT homes were selected to participate in a retrofit project. Energy audits, conducted by leading consultants Econoler, led to installations of energy-saving measures such as spray foam insulation, solar panels and high-efficiency air conditioning units.

The impact was substantial. In one case, a homeowner reduced their electricity consumption from 2195kWh in September 2023, to just 715kWh in September 2024 - a 67.4% year-on-year reduction. Another homeowner saw their monthly utility bill plummet from approximately KYD $800 to KYD $170.

In the Public Sector Building programme, 13 public sector buildings across all three islands - including schools, libraries, post offices, Cayman Brac Fire Station, Little Cayman Airport and the House of Parliament – underwent detailed energy audits. Based on the findings, retrofits of energy efficient air conditioning units were installed at the West Bay Public Library and the Airport Post Office.

This is the first programme of its kind in the Cayman Islands, pairing technical retrofits with community engagement and education. The Ministry is using the lessons learned from these initiatives to inform and shape future energy efficiency programmes, ensuring continued progress toward national sustainability goals. In April 2025, the Ministry published Energy Efficiency Guidelines and hosted training sessions with contractors, architects and suppliers. These resources along with full programme details, are available at www.gov.ky/energy. 

Minister for Health, Environment & Sustainability Hon. Katherine Ebanks-Wilks, who was Minister with responsibility for energy when this project was being implemented, praised the team for their hard work in successfully implementing this important project: “This project highlights how energy efficiency can help homeowners reduce costs, and I’m excited to continue supporting similar initiatives. This award truly reflects the outstanding work being done by the Ministry in promoting energy efficiency and by extension, reducing the cost of living and improving the quality of life of the people in the Cayman Islands”

Kristen Smith, Senior Policy Advisor for Energy at the Ministry of Health, Environment & Sustainability, accepted the award on behalf of the Cayman Islands Government and programme partners.  “It is an honour and privilege to accept this award on behalf of the Cayman Islands Government, the Ministry, our partners at RESEMBID, and all the programme participants. This initiative has made a real and measurable impact on our communities, demonstrating that even small changes can lead to significant savings in both energy use and household expenses.  

With the cost of living a top concern for residents and policymakers alike, empowering individuals to embrace energy-efficient practices is not just smart – it’s essential. This programme has laid the groundwork for a more resilient and sustainable energy future for the Cayman Islands. Empowering the community to understand that energy efficient practices can save them money and support the goals of the National Energy Policy is essential.”

Senior Programme Manager at RESEMBID, Edward Turvill gave heartfelt congratulations on behalf of the programme: “For the people of the Cayman Islands, these projects highlight the significant cost-saving benefits accessible through the integration of renewable energy technologies. This recognition is a powerful affirmation of the transformative work undertaken by the Ministry of Health, Environment & Sustainability. We are honoured by and incredibly proud of this partnership and the impact and achievements of these initiatives."